Last weekend I added 200 miles to my odometer. That was over two days but still quite a bit for me. I feel like a big biker now. With the sky graying and the temps dropping - now it's time to bundle up before hitting the road. Can't let a bit of wind or cool days stop us. Before we know it the snow will squelch our riding.
As we head out today to wander for a couple hours I've got my leather chaps on and my quilted lining is zipped into my heavier jacket. Small price to pay to extend the riding season.
The catalogs are already stacked up and waiting for some off season shopping. When you love biking there's always something to do - no matter what the season.
Bike Days Dwindling
I've done my best to be out there on the road so the blog has been on hold. As the days shorten and the weather eventually gets so the bike has to stay in the garage watch for more posts.
In the meantime - please vote for one of the projects I'm working on - the Chardon Heritage House. We've earned the chance to get a Pepsi Refresh grant of $50,000 to help make this project happen and that's a significant amount of support.
You can text 102258 to 73774 AND you can vote online @ http://www.refresheverything.com/chardonohiocommunitycenter
Please vote both ways EVERY DAY! Thanks for your support!
In the meantime - please vote for one of the projects I'm working on - the Chardon Heritage House. We've earned the chance to get a Pepsi Refresh grant of $50,000 to help make this project happen and that's a significant amount of support.
You can text 102258 to 73774 AND you can vote online @ http://www.refresheverything.com/chardonohiocommunitycenter
Please vote both ways EVERY DAY! Thanks for your support!
New Roads
I've been stacking up the miles on my Aero. Geneva on the Lake - yep. Willoughby downtown - yep. Geauga County country roads - yep. Peninsula's Winking Lizard - yep. River Road curves - yep, yep, yep. New routes attract me more than familiar ones and that supply is certainly abundant since this is my first year of riding.
I think that at my age it's rather unique to be proud of a new adventure. Perhaps I'm wrong but I believe generally mid-life is routine and habitual. We have our jobs, our families, and our community. Responsibility still reigns. The question is - do we have chutzpah? Maybe any age is a good time to ask ourselves that question.
More than one respected study shows that the being engaged in life, learning new skills and taking more risks equates to being sharper in the mind and more lively in the living. I love the stories that show up in newspapers and magazine regarding centenarians celebrating birthdays at work or at their favorite hang out, with zest and with passion. Even aging bikers are keeping their groove by going three-wheels to help with balance and leg strength. Point is - they're staying on the road and continuing their adventure. Nice.
Now I must admit - I'm not the biggest risk taker. Free falling from anything doesn't appeal. Investing in volatile stocks doesn't entice. Even in my biking I'm wearing protective gear because bandages are a lot hotter than my armored mesh jacket. I like to think I place smart wagers in life. Living edgy but not all-0ut flirting with disaster - though some may counter that marriage and having children are high stake gambles but in that arena I've been blessed. Basically - risk is good for the adrenaline system - keeps the "set in her ways" crustiness away.
Here's your take away today - try something new.
It doesn't have to be motorcycling though I highly recommend it.
Join your local Toastmasters chapter and beat down your fear of speaking in public. Start writing that book you've daydreamed for decades and join a writers group so you experience the critique that will make you a better writer, published someday or not. Free fall, hang glide, start a real relationship, get your degree or learn Portuguese. Doesn't matter what you choose so long as you feel the stretch and sense the risk.
The point is embrace life and get some chutzpah going in your life. Stagnant water is never pretty.
I think that at my age it's rather unique to be proud of a new adventure. Perhaps I'm wrong but I believe generally mid-life is routine and habitual. We have our jobs, our families, and our community. Responsibility still reigns. The question is - do we have chutzpah? Maybe any age is a good time to ask ourselves that question.
More than one respected study shows that the being engaged in life, learning new skills and taking more risks equates to being sharper in the mind and more lively in the living. I love the stories that show up in newspapers and magazine regarding centenarians celebrating birthdays at work or at their favorite hang out, with zest and with passion. Even aging bikers are keeping their groove by going three-wheels to help with balance and leg strength. Point is - they're staying on the road and continuing their adventure. Nice.
Now I must admit - I'm not the biggest risk taker. Free falling from anything doesn't appeal. Investing in volatile stocks doesn't entice. Even in my biking I'm wearing protective gear because bandages are a lot hotter than my armored mesh jacket. I like to think I place smart wagers in life. Living edgy but not all-0ut flirting with disaster - though some may counter that marriage and having children are high stake gambles but in that arena I've been blessed. Basically - risk is good for the adrenaline system - keeps the "set in her ways" crustiness away.
Here's your take away today - try something new.
It doesn't have to be motorcycling though I highly recommend it.
Join your local Toastmasters chapter and beat down your fear of speaking in public. Start writing that book you've daydreamed for decades and join a writers group so you experience the critique that will make you a better writer, published someday or not. Free fall, hang glide, start a real relationship, get your degree or learn Portuguese. Doesn't matter what you choose so long as you feel the stretch and sense the risk.
The point is embrace life and get some chutzpah going in your life. Stagnant water is never pretty.
A Biker's Birthday Wish
What a wonderful week! The hubby and I vacated the usual to spend a few days in the Hocking Hills. So named, we think, due to the twisty roads. With no warning signs it's easy to take a corner too quickly and suddenly you have the urge to hock up your lunch. Even the locals say they just buckle up and pray through the turns. Interesting piece of engineering is all I can say.
Since we had so much stuff to take to the cabin we rented we left the bikes at home. Just as well. As we suspected - we didn't see many bikes in that area and I'm sure I would have bought it at some surprise hairpin. On the return trip we stopped in at the Iron Pony and I got my birthday gifts - a pair of Cortech DX gloves and a Joe Rocket tank bag to hold my stuff. No more bulging pockets for me. My husband got his birthday gift too - a Shoei RF-1100 helmet. The sales gal was knowledgable and really helped us find the right fit. She also is a hard core biker and has me thinking about running an Iron Butt. Could I really cover 1,000 miles in 24 hours? Perhaps this type of endurance riding is for those younger than me and I should just stick with cruising.
Needless to say - we rode the next morning after we got home. We headed out to Mary Yoder's for some breakfast and then shot over to Rt. 528 to head north up to Rt. 307 which is home to many wineries and nice curves. Very enjoyable. We headed south on Rt. 45 to Rt. 6 where we switched bikes. Bob's VTX is slim and tight compared to my Aero. I'm accustomed to my nice foot rests and easy clutch. I am classic-cruiser-spoiled. His bike is edgy, nimble and very very loud. My one panic moment passed quickly when I managed to hook the shifter peg with the edge of my boot since my boot toe was too fat to fit under it as is my habit. That was enough. We switched back in three miles after stopping in Hartsgrove at the Old General Store for a cone - a longtime Bednar Family tradition as we use to take our four kids out there for a summertime treat a couple decades ago.
It's good to go out and it's good to get home. The ride, like the vacation, ended well. Now today as I celebrate the anniversary of my birth I am glad to be a biker. My birthday wishes include safe freedom on the road for all bikers. May the journey always start happy and end well.
Since we had so much stuff to take to the cabin we rented we left the bikes at home. Just as well. As we suspected - we didn't see many bikes in that area and I'm sure I would have bought it at some surprise hairpin. On the return trip we stopped in at the Iron Pony and I got my birthday gifts - a pair of Cortech DX gloves and a Joe Rocket tank bag to hold my stuff. No more bulging pockets for me. My husband got his birthday gift too - a Shoei RF-1100 helmet. The sales gal was knowledgable and really helped us find the right fit. She also is a hard core biker and has me thinking about running an Iron Butt. Could I really cover 1,000 miles in 24 hours? Perhaps this type of endurance riding is for those younger than me and I should just stick with cruising.
Needless to say - we rode the next morning after we got home. We headed out to Mary Yoder's for some breakfast and then shot over to Rt. 528 to head north up to Rt. 307 which is home to many wineries and nice curves. Very enjoyable. We headed south on Rt. 45 to Rt. 6 where we switched bikes. Bob's VTX is slim and tight compared to my Aero. I'm accustomed to my nice foot rests and easy clutch. I am classic-cruiser-spoiled. His bike is edgy, nimble and very very loud. My one panic moment passed quickly when I managed to hook the shifter peg with the edge of my boot since my boot toe was too fat to fit under it as is my habit. That was enough. We switched back in three miles after stopping in Hartsgrove at the Old General Store for a cone - a longtime Bednar Family tradition as we use to take our four kids out there for a summertime treat a couple decades ago.
It's good to go out and it's good to get home. The ride, like the vacation, ended well. Now today as I celebrate the anniversary of my birth I am glad to be a biker. My birthday wishes include safe freedom on the road for all bikers. May the journey always start happy and end well.
Bikin' - not Writin'
Life has an ebb and flow. The flow has been way too fast and full in my life for about a month. So my blogging has been in ebb mode.
I am happy to report that I've been riding quite a bit. My ride times are getting longer and my skills are increasing. Not quite ready for a rally with wheel to wheel clutching & braking but over the road trips I am handling quite well.
On the garage front I can tell you that the labor was intensive and the end-product is still in development but we're getting there. However - no pictures until it's done! So it may be a while. Why is there always a gap between expectations and reality? I suppose so that we can experience hope.
As for our 30th anniversary celebration - it was a delightful weekend topped off with the kids taking us out to dinner where the youngest of the brood showed up as a surprise. He and his girl made a one day trip up from Columbus just to help us celebrate. Look at all those happy faces in that photo. What a wonderful ebb & flow family has been for us.
I hope your hot summer days are filled with good memory-making moments. Don't forget to watch out for that crack seal - it's awful slippery in this heat. Maybe I'll see you on the road - wave if you see my yellow and black Aero go by.
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